Efficient Photopolymerization of Dental Resin Composites Using the Photoluminescent Long Afterglow of Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Dy3.

Dental curing light with blue emission acts as the excitation source for the photopolymerization of the dental composite resin to achieve dental repairing. However, the current repair methods still suffer from a low monomer conversion degree and incomplete resin curing. In this study, novel dental resin composites (DRCs) were prepared by combining Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Dy3+ (SMSED), a photoluminescent material with a blue long afterglow, and dental resin composites. The curing depth, double bond conversion, elastic modulus, compressive strength, water absorption and solubility, and cytotoxicity were investigated systematically. The results suggest that adding 1 wt % SMSED to dental resin composites can maximize the curing depth and double bond conversion rate of DRCs and reduce its water absorption capacity without affecting the mechanical properties and biological toxicity. This work explores the practical applications of SMSED in dental resin composites, which provides an important reference for further improving the effect of dental caries repair.

SESN2 Could Be a Potential Marker for Diagnosis and Prognosis in Glioma.

(1) Background: Glioma is among the most common brain tumors, and is difficult to eradicate with current therapeutic strategies due to its highly invasive and aggressive characteristics. Sestrin2 (SESN2) is an autophagy inducer. The effect of SESN2 on glioma is controversial and unclear. (2) Methods: We downloaded related RNA-seq data from the TCGA and GTEx databases. Bioinformatic analyses including differential gene expression analysis, KM survival curve analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, nomogram analysis, ROC curve analysis, gene function enrichment analysis, and immune cell infiltration analysis were conducted. In addition, data from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database were collected to validate SESN2 expression in glioma. (3) Results: In comparison with normal tissue, expression of SESN2 in glioma tissue was higher, and those with higher expressions had significantly lower overall survival rates. The results of univariate Cox regression analyses showed that SESN2 can be a disadvantageous factor in poor glioma prognosis. Both nomograms and ROC curves confirmed these findings. Meanwhile, according to gene function analysis, SESN2 may be involved in immune responses and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Based on the HPA database results, SESN2 is localized in the cytosol and shows high expression in glioma. (4) Conclusions: The expression of SESN2 in gliomas was positively relevant to a poorer prognosis, suggesting that SESN2 could be used as a prognostic gene.

Obstructive sleep apnea and serum total testosterone: a system review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Testosterone deficiency (TD) negatively affects male sexuality, reproduction, general health, and quality of life. In recent years, decreased serum testosterone levels have been reported to be caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, these results are controversial and lack the support of a large number of high-quality studies. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between OSA and serum testosterone levels. METHODS: To identify eligible studies, we conducted a systematic retrieval in the electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE) from their inception to September 2021. We chose studies with definitive diagnoses of OSA, including effects of OSA on testosterone level. Random effect model was used for analysis. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 24 case-control studies with 1389 patients (1268 male patients) and 845 controls (745 male control). The serum testosterone levels in the male OSA group were significantly lower than that of control group [SMD = - 0.97, 95% CI (- 1.47, - 0.47)], while there was no difference in female patients with OSA and control [SMD = 0.06, 95% CI (- 0.22, 0.33)]. Subgroup analysis showed that race, age, body mass index (BMI), and detection method were the reason for high heterogeneity (I2 = 94.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that OSA is significantly correlated with the decrease in serum testosterone levels in men. Male patients with OSA should be alerted to secondary diseases caused by low testosterone levels.

High expression of MARVELD3 as a potential prognostic biomarker for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Tight junction-associated marvel proteins (TAMP) is a transmembrane protein whose members are associated with tight junctions between cells and epithelial remodeling. MARVEL domain containing 3 (MARVELD3) is one of the members of the TAMP. MARVELD3, as a novel tight junction protein involved in bicellular tight junction assembly, has attracted growing attention in the field of oncology. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of MARVELD3 and to determine how it functions in tumorigenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), thus providing additional data to help the guidance of clinical practice. Materials and Methods: RNA-seq data and relevant clinical information were obtained from TCGA. Bioinformatics means used in this study included differential gene expression analysis, KM survival curve analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, nomogram analysis, ROC curve analysis, methylation level analysis, gene function enrichment analysis, and immune cell infiltration analysis. Results: MARVELD3 was significantly higher expressed in OSCC tissue than in normal tissue, and the overall survival of the high expression group was significantly lower than that of the normal group. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that MARVELD3 could serve as an independent contributing factor to poor OSCC prognosis. The nomograms and ROC curves supported the results above. Its expression was negatively correlated with DNA methylation sites. Analysis of PPI networking and gene functional enrichment showed that MARVELD3 was involved in the functional activities of DNA and RNA and was associated with immune cell infiltration. Conclusion: The high expression of MARVELD3 is associated with poor prognosis in OSCC, and MARVELD3 could be recognized as a novel independent prognostic factor for OSCC.

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein regulates RNA methylation associated with depression-like behavior in mice.

Post-transcriptional modifications of RNA, such as RNA methylation, can epigenetically regulate behavior, for instance learning and memory. However, it is unclear whether RNA methylation plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of major depression disorder (MDD). Here, we report that expression of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO), an RNA demethylase, is downregulated in the hippocampus of patients with MDD and mouse models of depression. Suppressing Fto expression in the mouse hippocampus results in depression-like behaviors in adult mice, whereas overexpression of FTO expression leads to rescue of the depression-like phenotype. Epitranscriptomic profiling of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation in the hippocampus of Fto knockdown (KD), Fto knockout (cKO), and FTO-overexpressing (OE) mice allows us to identify adrenoceptor beta 2 (Adrb2) mRNA as a target of FTO. ADRB2 stimulation rescues the depression-like behaviors in mice and spine loss induced by hippocampal Fto deficiency, possibly via the modulation of hippocampal SIRT1 expression by c-MYC. Our findings suggest that FTO is a regulator of a mechanism underlying depression-like behavior in mice.

[Effect of orthodontic traction on the microstructure of dental enamel].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of orthodontic traction on the microstructure of dental enamel. METHODS: Forty-eight isolated premolars were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=8), including Group A (blank control group), in which the teeth were bonded with the orthodontic brackets without any loading force; Groups B1, B2, and B3 where the teeth were bonded with the orthodontic brackets using clinical adhesives and loaded with 50 g force for 6 months, 200 g force for 6 months, and 200 g force for 1 month, respectively; and Groups C1 and C2, where the teeth were bonded with straight wire brackets using light curing bonding and chemical curing bonding techniques, respectively. All the teeth were embedded with non-decalcified epoxy resin. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and energy spectrometer (EDS) were used to analyze interface morphology and elemental composition of the teeth sliced with a hard tissue microtome. RESULTS: Compared with those in Group A, the teeth in the other 5 groups showed increased adhesive residue index with microcracks and void structures on the enamel surface under SEM; AFM revealed microcracks on the enamel surface with angles to the grinding direction. A larger loading force on the bracket resulted in more microcracks on the enamel interface. The interface roughness differed significantly between Groups A and C2, and the peak-to-valley distance differed significantly between Groups A, C, and C2. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic traction can cause changes in the microstructure of normal dental enamel.

Developmental validation of a novel six-dye typing system with 47 A-InDels and 2 Y-InDels.

In this study, a multiplex amplification system including 47 autosomal InDels, 2 Y-chromosome InDels, and the sex-determining marker (Amelogenin) was developed with six fluorescent dyes labeling. These InDels were selected from the previous study based on a series of criteria (0.3 < MAF < 0.5, HET > 0.4, etc). The system was designated the AGCU InDel 50 kit and was validated in a series of studies, including a degradation study; tests for sensitivity, species specificity, reproducibility, stability, applicability to case samples, balance of peak height, and PCR conditions; and a population study. The results showed that AGCU InDel 50 kit was quite sensitive, specific, stable in several PCR conditions or exposure to PCR inhibitors, especially against degradation. 74 case samples and 50 paternity cases with STR mutation events were tested using PowerPlex® 21 System, AGCU InDel 50 kit, and Investigator DIPplex kit, and the results showed that the ratio of loci detected with the developed kit were close to Investigator@ DIPplex kit, but considerably higher than PowerPlex® 21 System for case samples containing low amounts of degraded DNA. As for 50 paternity cases, no mutation was observed in any InDels locus, and the CPIs based on 47 autosomal InDels contained in the AGCU InDel 50 kit were all higher than those based on 30 InDels contained in Investigator® DIPplex kit, except 3 cases. In the population study, 203 unrelated individuals from the Guangdong Han population were detected using the AGCU InDel 50 kit, and the values of combined power of discrimination and combined power of exclusion were 0.999 999 999 999 999 and 0.9997, respectively. Thus, AGCU InDel 50 kit is suitable for individual identification and as a supplemental tool for paternity testing. It is reproducible, accurate and robust for forensic applications and human genetic studies.